In June 2011, Steve Bach took office as the city’s first strong mayor, promising to transform city government, revitalize the local economy and run a lean, efficient, business-friendly administration. Those tasks would have challenged the most experienced politician, yet Bach had never served as an elected official. His decades of business experience had familiarized him […]

As an outsider originally from the D.C. area, having lived many years in Ann Arbor, Mich., and also in Canada and England, I feel compelled to share an observation I made within a few weeks after settling into the majestic beauty of Colorado Springs. As the new director of the Southern Colorado Economic Forum, I […]

Stephen M.R. Covey has a specific message for Colorado Springs, and he’s coming here to deliver it.
Covey, CEO of the Covey Leadership Center and son of renowned writer Stephen R. Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” will present “Leading at the Speed of Trust” on...

In November 2010, Colorado Springs voters approved a radical change in the City Charter by a 60-40 margin. Issue 300, a citizen-initiated charter amendment, replaced the city manager form of government with a “strong mayor” system. The amendment, supported by an ad hoc coalition of longtime local business leaders, benefited from a sophisticated, heavily funded […]

Col. Joel Hamilton looked forward to starting his assignment in May as Fort Carson’s garrison commander with a few calm months of learning his new post and meeting people. Little did Hamilton realize, until just before arriving, that he’d be stepping into a tough situation from his first day on the job, May 21. When […]

No matter what type of business you are in, continued training is essential to success. Companies are experiencing a powerful movement in the workforce with the Baby Boomer generation retiring and a new generation entering the workforce. As the Boomers leave, they take with them valuable skill-sets, experience and years of training and education. Incoming […]

Employees knew the salary and the compensation package when they were hired. They applied for the job, so presumably, they knew what the work entailed. What else do great employees want? How do managers keep terrific employees? As it turns out, at all levels, employees want leadership. Real leadership fosters a vibrant working environment, and […]

Once again the news is filled with another workplace shooting. In a Minneapolis sign shop, a former employee fired hours earlier came back with a gun and took the lives of five people, which included the shop owner and a visiting UPS driver, before taking his own life. Could anything have been done by the […]

Keeping ahead of changing technology and a changing business environment means adapting and implementing new ideas on a continuous basis. Yet many people tend to shy away from change. People don’t like changing procedures, processes and overall change in general. The status quo is comfortable. Change seems hard. If you are in charge of making […]

A common question that often surfaces is whether it is wise to hire family members or friends. Opinions are generally strong concerning this issue, and there seem to be as many on one side of the fence as the other. In many cultures business is largely based on relational lines — many even in the […]

As we watch the amazing feats of athleticism performed by thousands of dedicated Olympic athletes from all over the world, I wonder how many people devote Olympian time, energy, discipline, and focus to their passions, their dreams, or their businesses. What can business leaders learn from Olympic athletes? 1. Get great advice. Listen to smart […]

As an executive, you have lots of work to do. In fact, you have so much to do that it sometimes feels like you are chained to your desk. Visits away from your desk are generally purposeful, brief, and mission-focused so that you can get back to the piles at hand. Your team members, on […]